Download Foot and Mouth Disease Fact Sheet, March 2002

Foot and Mouth Disease
March 2002
Fact Sheet
Environmental Health Programs
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
F
oot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
is an animal disease caused by a
virus (Aphthovirus). Animals with
FMD have fever and blisters in the
mouth, teats, and feet. Affected animals
have difficulty eating and moving and
may recover, but have severe losses in
meat and milk production. Outbreaks of
FMD can result in huge losses in the
livestock industry and wildlife
community.
What animals are susceptible to
FMD? Cattle, swine, goats, sheep,
deer, other cloven-hoofed animals, rats,
and hedgehogs are susceptible to FMD.
Horses, dogs, and cats are not
susceptible but could spread the virus
by carrying it on their hair.
How are animals exposed to the FMD
virus? The FMD virus is easily spread
to animals and nearly 100% of exposed
animals become infected. The virus can
spread from infected animals,
contaminated animal feed or water,
contaminated shoes or clothing, and
contaminated vehicles or farm
equipment. In some circumstances the
virus may be spread from farm to farm
by the wind.
Where does FMD occur? An epidemic
of FMD in cattle, sheep and swine
occurred in the United Kingdom in 2001.
The disease is widespread around the
world but North America, Central
America, Australia, New Zealand, Chile,
and some European nations are
considered free of FMD. The United
States has been free of FMD since
1929.
What is being done to prevent the
introduction of FMD into United
States? The United States Department
of Agriculture banned importation of
certain animals and meat products from
Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
There are also restrictions on the types
of food products travelers can bring into
the United States from the United
Kingdom and Europe. Travelers arriving
in the United States may be questioned
about travel to farms or contact with
livestock.
Is there any additional advice for
travelers? Travelers should check on
the US Department of Agriculture Web
site (listed at the end of this fact sheet)
for current recommendations to prevent
the spread of FMD.
Foot and Mouth Disease (cont’d)
Does FMD cause illness in humans? Only
a few human cases of FMD have ever been
documented. All of these persons had direct
contact with infected animals. The cases
experienced a mild illness with headache,
fever and possibly blisters appearing on the
hands or feet, or in the mouth. The virus is
not spread person-to-person or via food to
humans.
Is it safe to eat meat or meat products?
There have never been reported human
cases of FMD linked to eating contaminated
foods. Adequate cooking of meat or other
animal product will destroy any infectious
agents, including the FMD virus. FMD virus
has not been detected in the United States
and meat from areas of the world where
FMD is present is not being imported into the
country.
Is FMD the same condition as Hand, Foot
and Mouth disease that occurs in
humans? No. Hand, Foot and Mouth
disease in humans is a mild illness caused
by a different virus (Enterovirus). It occurs
most commonly in children under 10 years
old. Hand, Foot and Mouth disease is
spread person-to-person by direct contact of
nose and throat discharge and in the feces
of infected persons.
For more information:
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Website:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/fmd/index.html
USDA toll free number for recorded
information for Travelers and Consumers:
1-866-SAFGUARD.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) website:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/fmd-europemar2001.htm
Need More Information?
Please Contact:
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
P.O. Box 47825
Olympia, Washington 98504-7825
Toll free: 1-888-586-9427
Additional copies of this fact sheet can be
obtained from:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/FS.htm